Intelect receive praise from KP on their proactive approach to working at heights at their Teesside site

"This is just the type of proactive approach we want to mitigate the risk of WAH." HSE Manager at KP Snacks, Teesside, describes Intelect's decision to invest in additional equipment for their staff. Intelect currently have 5 regular members of staff working on a long-term contract at the snack manufacturers Billingham site. The team headed up by John Henderson are responsible for the electrical installations and maintenance of the building. Intelect also work alongside KP's own staff to design, manufacture and install equipment that monitors and improves the performance of production line.

As part of their daily activity, the team are working at heights as described by the Health and Safety Executive

"Work in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. You are working at height if you:

work above ground/floor level

could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface or

could fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground

Work at height does not include a slip or a trip on the level, as a fall from height has to involve a fall from one level to a lower level, nor does it include walking up and down a permanent staircase in a building."

Investing in safety

Whilst step ladders are suitable for low-risk and short duration tasks (under 30mins) Intelect were keen to impress upon KP their commitment to going above and beyond what is required by legislation if it will make the working environment safer.

The additional MEWP's (Mobile Elevated Work Platforms) and podium scaffolds were purchased to reduce the need to use stepladders on site, the podium scaffolds provide a stable and compact platform that allows staff to work comfortably and safely at lower heights. The MEWP's can also fit into tighter spaces and they extend to around 5.5 metres, for heights in excess of this we also keep scissor lifts and boom lifts on site. All staff working at heights are IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) certified.